To make matters worse, there are currently no recognised methods of humane slaughter for octopus that would be feasible at a large commercial scale. Stress from overcrowding can even lead octopuses to resort to self-cannibalism – they literally eat their own arms.Īnd since they are behaviourally and cognitively complex, they require complex environments that provide stimulation and opportunities to perform natural behaviours. They are a vulnerable animal that prefers to hide and requires shelter to feel safe.Īs solitary animals (with very rare exceptions), they are often aggressive and territorial, meaning they tend to react badly to the company of other octopuses, with cannibalism common for many octopus species. They are soft-bodied, with skin that damages easily through rough handling or collisions with tank walls or furniture, particularly when jetting away from perceived threats – their usual escape response. Octopuses have several characteristics that make them particularly ill-suited to intensive farming. The possibility of poor welfare is extremely concerning, especially as there are no protections for farmed octopus under animal welfare legislation anywhere in the world. Octopuses are attractive candidates for commercial aquaculture, due to their high value, fast growth and rapid breeding.īut when working on our report, we assessed some of the greatest risks to the welfare of octopuses, and octopus farming was high on our list. As well as Spain, there are similar efforts in Mexico, Chile, China and Japan. And that has led to the proposals to start farming octopuses on an industrial scale. While octopus has long been an occasional menu item for many, demand for octopus meat is growing rapidly. Photo: Shutterstockįor many scientists, our findings merely reaffirmed what they already believed: that octopuses are conscious animals with feelings and inner lives, just like vertebrates.įor us, all of this sits uneasily with the idea of octopus farming. Octopus are capable of experiencing pain and pleasure. We found strong evidence in favour of sentience in cephalopod molluscs (including octopuses, squid and cuttlefish) and decapod crustaceans (such as crabs and lobsters). We recently produced a report for the UK government, after analysing over 300 scientific studies. They are also sentient, capable of experiencing feelings such as pain and pleasure. In a laboratory setting too, they have shown themselves adept at solving mazes and other puzzles to acquire a food reward.Īnd octopuses are not only intelligent. One octopus in Germany was renowned for repeatedly squirting water at the lights, seemingly aware that this would short-circuit the electricity and cause a commotion. They may even have a mischievous streak, with frequent reports of octopuses squirting water at unsuspecting visitors and caregivers. ![]() And they are well-known escape artists in captivity, able to squeeze through extraordinarily small spaces. Sometimes they cover themselves with shells or even carry coconut shells to hide from predators. Wild octopuses are masters of camouflage, rapidly changing their skin patterns to blend in with their backgrounds. ![]() This raises huge concerns for animal welfare – because there can be no doubt that octopuses are complex and intelligent animals. Recently a Spanish company announced its intention to open a new industrial octopus farm, with a goal of producing 3,000 tonnes of octopus a year. ![]() This is the bleak world of octopus farming – and soon there could be new commercial farms on the horizon. Yet the reality of life for some octopuses is existence within a barren tank, inescapably surrounded by humans and other octopuses. When you imagine an octopus’s world, you might well see a curious creature in a complex undersea environment. Photo: Henner Damke/Shutterstockīy Alexandra Schnel, Heather Browning and Jonathan Birch
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